Yes, I was robbed–but my Hope in Christ remains!

I was wanting to write a few thoughts regarding the difficult incident Josiah and I experienced Sunday. For those who may not be aware, I was robbed at gunpoint with my son nearby. After being held captive by this individual for several minutes, I was able to grab Josiah and run across a four lane highway to the gas station (wondering if we’d be chased down as we ran) and called the police. Thankfully, during the encounter, I was clear-headed enough to understand that the wisest course of action for this particular incident (out of concern for my son) would be to offer no resistance to the attacker.

During the time I had a gun in my back, I really did think about the possibility of being shot in the next few moments, and what this would be like for my son to witness. I prayed to the Lord, knowing that it – as all things in life are– was ultimately in His hands.Since then, I’m not going to lie, it hasn’t been easy whenever I recall those feelings or the face of the attacker. But it’s getting better, which I owe to the many prayers of my friends and family, and to the watch-care of our Father.

A couple of verses I have found encouraging are Proverbs 18:10 (which was sent to me by my mother-in-law) and reads, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” I also found Genesis 3:4 to be of interest, and how the serpent said to Eve that if she ate of the fruit, she would know good and evil. As I look at the devastation and chaos of sin all around us – “knowing” evil has indeed wrought an unimaginably horrific toll upon this world. Sometimes it seems like it can be pretty easy to become calloused or dismissive of evil when there is so much in the news and in the newspaper. But then, like Sunday, it became very personal for us. Thinking of the young man who threatened me and my son Sunday evening – while I hope for justice, and safety for others who might encounter this dangerous individual and his cohorts – I also pray that he will come to know the Lord some day.

Furthermore, as Sunday evening clearly demonstrated to me, there are no shades of gray – despite what a world apart from Christ might say. There’s right, and there’s wrong. As such, Sunday night has served to powerfully reinforce that as a Christian, this life is no game. There are eternal stakes here. I’m as guilty as anyone about sometimes not taking on the responsibilities I should as a Christian – looking at a world gone mad on the television or in the papers – and shaking my head wondering why the Lord doesn’t intervene. But then, He already has. He’s intervened in my life, and in the lives of millions of others, through the power of His Spirit. Hope? Change? Purpose? Our world doesn’t know the true meaning. But as Christians, WE DO! May we all endeavor to work for Him in ALL spheres of life to share His Love, Hope and Truth to a world sinking fast in desperation and death.

Anyway, I hope this will serve as an encouragement to you.

Thank you for your prayers and friendship. They have truly helped! And as always, please let us know how we can pray and be a friend for you in return.